Buddhism Founder: Siddhartha Gautama also know as Buddha Religious Leader: Dalai Lama Place of Worship: Vihara
Region Buddhism was originated from India and has now spread so that there are Buddhists in nearly every country.
Description of Main Beliefs
After death one returns to earthly life in a higher, or lower form of life according
to his or her good or bad deeds (called reincarnation)
Faith centers on correct understanding of human nature and ultimate reality
Buddha is their only master
They take refuge in the Buddha, the Ohamma, and the Sangha
This world is not created and ruled by a god
Description of gods Buddhists don't believe in one god, they believe in many. For example if you needed rain you ask one god, if you needed the rain to stop you would ask another.
Examples:
Green Tara
Green Tara - mother of all buddhas
- mother of all compassion
Medicine Buddha - buddha of healing
Manjushri - Badhisattua of wisdom
Vajrasattua - Bodhisattua of purification
Description of Sacred Writings
Divided into the categories of canonical and non-cononical
Sotras or Suttas are believed to be, either literally or metaphorically, the actual words of the Buddha
Tripitaka is the earliest collection of Buddhist teachings and the only text recognized as canonical by Therauda Buddhists
The Mahayan Sutras is a sacred text
Tibetan book of the dead is most well known to the west.
Written by a Tibetan monk
Describes in detail the stages of death from the Tibetan point of view
Description of Practices
3 Trainings or Practices
1. Sila: virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on 2 fundamental priciples:
The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal
The principle of reciprocity: this is the golden rule in Christianity---
to do unto others as you would have them do unto you
2. Samadhi: concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to wisdom which in turn leads to pearson freedom. Mental development also strengthens and control our mind; this helps us maintain good conduct.
3. Prajna: discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm.
Description of Festivals
Vesak or Visakah Puja (Budddha Day)-Buddha's birthday celebrates the birth,
enlightment, and death of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May.
Elephant Festival- the Buddha used the example of a wild elephant which when is caught, is harnessed one to train. In the same way, he said, a person new to Buddhism should have a special friendship of an older Buddhist. This festival is held on the third Saturday in November.
The festival of the tooth- In the city of Kandy a great temple was built to house a relic of Buddha, his tooth. The tooth can never be seen, but once a year in August on the night of the full moon, there is a special procession for it.
Symbols
Eight Spoked Wheel- represents Buddha turning the wheel of truth or law
Bodhi Tree- represents the tree under which the Buddha achieved enlightment
Footprints- represents the physical presence of the enlightened one
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama also know as Buddha
Religious Leader: Dalai Lama
Place of Worship: Vihara
Region
Buddhism was originated from India and has now spread
so that there are Buddhists in nearly every country.
Description of Main Beliefs
- After death one returns to earthly life in a higher, or lower form of life according
to his or her good or bad deeds (called reincarnation)- Faith centers on correct understanding of human nature and ultimate reality
- Buddha is their only master
- They take refuge in the Buddha, the Ohamma, and the Sangha
This world is not created and ruled by a godDescription of gods
Buddhists don't believe in one god, they believe in many. For example if you needed
rain you ask one god, if you needed the rain to stop you would ask another.
- Examples:
Green Tara
- Green Tara - mother of all buddhas
- mother of all compassionDescription of Sacred Writings
Description of Practices
- 3 Trainings or Practices
- 1. Sila: virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on 2 fundamental priciples:
- The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal
- The principle of reciprocity: this is the golden rule in Christianity---
to do unto others as you would have them do unto youDescription of Festivals
- Vesak or Visakah Puja (Budddha Day)-Buddha's birthday celebrates the birth,
enlightment, and death of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May.Symbols
Christianity